Pelargonium plant named &#39;FIPELBROFIR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Fipelbrofir’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; leaves with a prominent dark brown-colored central zonal pattern and green-colored margins; early and freely flowering habit; semi-double light red-colored flowers arranged on rounded umbels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIPELBROFIR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commonlyreferred to as Zonale Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Fipelbrofir’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain and De Lier, TheNetherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create newfreely-branching and freely-flowering Pelargonium plants with attractiveleaf and flower coloration.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2012 in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 60040, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 88844, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Pelargonium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands in July, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands since August, 2013 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fipelbrofir’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fipelbrofir’ as a new and distinct Pelargoniumplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Leaves with a prominent dark brown-colored central zonal        pattern and green-colored margins.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Semi-double light red-colored flowers arranged on rounded        umbels.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in flower petal color as plants of the female parentselection have red-colored flower petals. In addition, plants of the newPelargonium have semi-double flowers whereas plants of the female parentselection have single-type flowers.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower petal color as plants of the male parentselection have red-colored flower petals.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium×hortorum ‘Mrs. Pollock’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plantsof ‘Mrs. Pollock’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Pelargonium are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Pelargonium are dark brown in        color with green-colored margins whereas leaves of plants of        ‘Mrs. Pollock’ are green, brown and yellow in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Pelargonium have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Mrs. Pollock’.    -   4. Plants of the new Pelargonium have semi-double flowers        whereas plants of ‘Mrs. Pollock’ have single-type flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Pelargonium plant. The photograph is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fipelbrofir’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial ZonalePelargonium production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 17° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C.Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fipelbrofir’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 60040, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 88844, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at            temperatures about 19° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About 18 days at temperatures about 19° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly            mounding plant habit; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; rapid            growth rate; moderately freely basal branching habit.        -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 27 cm to 29 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.2 cm. Diameter: About            9 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 145B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 7.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 143C; venation, close to 143C. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146D; venation,            close to 144D. Zonation pattern, upper surface only:            Location: About 1.4 cm from the margin edge. Width: About            5.7 cm. Color: Close to 166A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 144D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double round flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;            flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 29            flowers and flower buds per umbel and numerous umbels            developing per plant during the flowering season.        -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is            continuous from spring through the summer; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about eight weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm by 3.3 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 43C.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five to seven. Length:            About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex.            Round. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 43B; venation, close            to 43B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 49A; venation, close to 49A.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three to five. Length:            About 6 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Round.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 43B. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 49A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2.8 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly            upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.2 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:            Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabous. Color: Close to            144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Filament length: About 6.1 mm. Filament color:            Close to 36A. Anther length: About 1.1 cm, Anther shape:            Oblong. Anther color: Close to N34A. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm.            Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 38A. Style            length: About 1.8 mm. Style color: Close to 3 8A. Ovary            color: Close to 144C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been            observed on plants of the new Pelargonium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Pelargonium plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 45° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named‘Fipelbrofir’ as illustrated and described.